A motorcycle ride in the open air is an unbeatable experience, especially within the scenic regions of Washington’s beaches, evergreen forests, and rugged mountain passes. Motorcycles are also a gas-friendly means of daily transportation to work and school for many Washington residents.
While motorcycle enthusiasts love the exhilaration of a two-wheeled ride, this open design leaves riders vulnerable to serious injuries in an accident. No word makes a motorcyclist shudder like the word “roadrash.” Before heading out on the open road in an open-air ride, it’s critical to understand the causes, complications, and risks of roadrash in an accident. Make sure to speak with a motorcycle accident attorney in Everett if you are injured in an accident.
What Is Roadrash?
Motorcyclists know that the risks of “laying down” a motorcycle in an accident are significant. Riders do not have the protection of a seatbelt and exterior vehicle, but instead make direct contact with the roadway and obstacles in a crash. Roadrash occurs when the rider skids across the pavement in an accident, causing deep abrasions and friction burns, particularly on bony parts of the body like knees, hips, shoulders, and elbows.
Doctors use the burn scale for measuring the seriousness of roadrash abrasions, with severity ranging from first-degree road rash with minor scrapes impacting mostly the top layer of skin, to third-degree roadrash with damage through the layers of skin and into the fat, muscles, and nerves. Third-degree roadrash may result in severe pain or loss of sensation as well as deep, disfiguring scarring, sometimes with permanent damage to muscles and nerves. Roadrash victims also face significant risks of infection. In some cases, “traumatic tattooing” occurs when tiny pieces of tar, asphalt, or road debris become embedded deep into the skin during a roadrash accident. Even after the meticulous removal of debris, pigment from the foreign bodies may remain, causing disfigurement.
Who Suffers From Roadrash Injuries In an Everett Motorcycle Accident?
Motorcyclists often wear tough outer clothing, like leather chaps and jackets, as protection against roadrash; however, in a high-speed crash, the outwear may not provide adequate protection. Motorcyclists are the most common victims of severe roadrash injuries, but roadrash wounds sometimes occur during scooter accidents, skating accidents, bicycle accidents, and in contact sports. Pedestrians injured in traffic accidents often experience roadrash abrasions as well.
What Compensation Is Available to Roadrash Victims?
When a motorcyclist suffers roadrash and other injuries in an accident caused by a careless driver, a defective motorcycle part, or a negligent road maintenance agency, the party at fault is liable for damages to the motorcyclist. Common compensation in motorcycle accident claims including for roadrash wounds includes the following:
- Property damage to the motorcycle
- Medical costs
- Future medical expenses for infection treatment, reconstructive surgery, or plastic surgery
- Lost wages
- Future income loss
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
In the worst cases of road rash, injury victims may face disfigurement, amputations, infections, or permanent disability. More commonly, road rash victims face temporary severe pain and painful medical procedures to treat the injuries. Even victims of less serious roadrash injuries deserve compensation for their damages when someone else’s fault causes the motorcycle accident.
How Can a Roadrash Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Everett Help My Roadrash Case?
To recover compensation for painful, disfiguring roadrash and other motorcycle accident injuries, the injury victim must prove the other party’s negligence and liability. This often presents a challenge, especially while they are trying to focus on healing from their painful injuries.
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries like roadrash, fractures, head injuries, or other trauma in a motorcycle accident in Washington, contact a personal injury lawyer in Everett from Wells Trumbull today for a free evaluation of your case so we can begin strategizing your financial recovery while you focus on your physical recovery.